Alfred tv



(No Model.)

A. W. SPERRY. ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

No. 454,546. Patented June 23,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED IV. SPERRY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND G.IVELLSROOT, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,516, dated June 23,1891.

Application filed October 27, 1890. Serial No. 369,521. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED IV. SPERRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ilartford, in the county of Hartford and State of 5Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Electric Conductors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

In the wiring of buildings and other structures the electric conductorsor wires have in many instances been placed in grooved strips of woodupon the surface of walls, and electric Wires covered wit-l1 insulatingmaterial have also been employed and fastened di rectly to the wall, andin other cases the in- I 5 sulated wires have been buried in cement.Accidents have frequently occurred in the use of such conductors by thedestruction of the insulating-cover of the wire by acid or alkali, orthe covering has been set on fire or destroyed by the heat of the wirecaused by a short circuit.

The object of my present invention is to provide an electric conductorwith an insulating covering that is not liable to injury by the heat ofthe conductor or from external causes.

In carrying out my invention I make use of mineral wool and liquidsilicate of soda, the proportion of liquid silicate being sufficient tosoften and render plastic the mineral wool; but I do not limit myself tothe proportions or the materials made use of. This insulating materialis formed into an envelope or case around a copper or other metal con- 35 ductor which carries the electric current. lVhere two wires or tubularconductors are employed they will lie parallel with each other in thestrip of enveloping insulating material of suitable length, there beingtransverse holes for screws by which the strip is attached to thesurface of the wall of a building or other structure.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 across-section, ofthe molded strip containing the conductors.

The metallic conductors may be of any desired size, according to the useto which the conductor is put, the envelope or case being of insulatingmaterial composed of mineral wool and silicate of soda or potash moldedaround said electric conductor.

The strip shown contains two metallic conductors Cl, 1), embedded insaid strip of insulating material herein set forth. These molded stripsare to be of any length desired, and the metallic conductors areconnected by metal plugs, which pass into the respective tubular ends ofthe conductors, and the opposing ends of the insulating material may bepermanently connected by a cement capable of forming a union with saidmaterial. These metallic conductors and insulating envelopes are in thewiring of a structure joined up by T forms, bends, and elbow forms, ofthe same insulating material, with tubular or solid con ductors therein,which coincide with the straight strips.

I provide holes passing from front to back and entirely through thestrip and between the conductors for the insertion of screws by whichsaid strip is attached in place, and I prefer to introduce short piecesof metal tubes in the mold and apply the composition around them informing these screw-holes.

My insulating-envelope for the electric conductor is water and acidproof, and will not be injured by the melting of the metallic conductor.

I claim as my invention- 1. The metallic electric conductors havingtubular ends and plugs to unite one length to the next and a fire andwater proof covering around the metallic conductors, substantially asspecified.

2. The metallic electric conductors having tubular ends and plugs tounite one length to the next and surrounding insulating material ofmineral wool and silicate of soda, forming a rigid fire and water proofenvelope to the conductors, substantially as specified. 9o

3. The metallic conductors having tubular ends and a covering of mineralwool and silicate of soda, there being transverse holes for screws, incombination with metallic plugs joining the metallic conductors at theirends, tallic conductors at their ends, substantially substantially asspecified. as specified. 1o

4:. The electric conductor having tubular Signed by me this 23d dayofOctober, 1890. ends and a fire and Water proof coverin Al BPED \V.SPERRY. 5 such as mlneral W001 and slllcate of soda, M

and short transverse metallic tubes in the Witnesses: covering andforming holes for screws, in com- GEO. T. PINOKNEY,

bination with metallic plugs joining the me- HAROLD SERRELL.

